Breeding male

Similar Species

Female

Female Rusty Blackbirds are more of a buffy or rusty color than female Brewer's Blackbirds. They also have a pale eye while most female Brewer's have a dark eye (some female Brewer's occasionally show a pale eye).

Similar Species

Adult male

Brown-headed Cowbirds have a shorter tail and thicker neck than Brewer's Blackbirds. They have a triangular-shaped bill and a dark eye whereas Brewer's Blackbirds have a longer, pointier bill. Male cowbirds have a dark rather than pale eye.

Adult males and females

Forages primarily on waste grain and grass seeds during winter, but prioritizes insects and other invertebrates during the breeding season. Brewer's Blackbirds are opportunistic foragers—supplementing their diet with stockyard spillage and scraps.